Published: July 29, 2009 11:02 pm      

BOWMAN: Exciting season flying by

Kokomo, Gas City offering good racing

I received a bit of a surprise just the other day.

While scanning through the upcoming schedule of races, to my dismay, I realized that the 2009 campaign is rapidly coming to a close. Kokomo has just three points races remaining (six overall) and the Gas City I-69 Speedway is well into the latter stages of its season as well.

Looking back on what has transpired so far it wouldn’t be a stretch to say that this has to rate as one of the best, most competitive seasons in recent memory. All the divisions and points chases at Kokomo are still pretty much up for grabs. Same thing for Gas City.

As for highlights this year — well, I was thrilled to see Josh Spencer claim his first career feature win aboard his Spencer Racing/Racing for Corey/Spencer Special/Chalk Chassis No. 66J. This is a young man I’ve watched from quarter-midgets through mini-sprints and now a non-wing sprint car. He’s more than paid his dues with a budget that is a fraction of most of the bigger-name teams’ budgets.

Like the Spencer Racing contingent, Jamie Frederickson and his family-owned team run on a tight budget as well.

With the help of his father, Bill, and Alan Brown among others in the pits each week, Frederickson has turned his program around. I was glad to have the opportunity to see the veteran in the Lowe’s Racing Engine/All-Star Performance/Crume-Evans Insurance Victory Lane Sunday night after winning the “Dash for Cash” event.

Standing alongside Frederickson while doing the on-track interview, it was easy to see and feel the emotion and relief that he felt. Like he noted in that interview, now he wants to be in that same position after a 25-lap feature and the way he is running, that time could come sooner than later.

Another driver who has totally impressed me has been Cole Whitt.

It looked like 2008 was Whitt’s “coming-out party” as he captured the USAC Mopar National Midget Series championship, the first of what will probably be many more to come.

Last year was nothing in comparison to the success he’s found at local venues this year.

Whitt has earned six feature wins already at the local oval, including a “never say never” victory Sunday night as he ran down and passed Nic Faas in the final 10 feet after trailing by as much as a straightaway at the midway point of the feature.

However, the most impressive thing about Whitt isn’t his successes, but rather the way he deals with misfortune.

For the better part of the 25-lap feature Friday night at Gas City, Whitt had the car to beat despite having a bent steering arm after contact on the first lap. After taking the white flag, second-place running Bryan Clauson had one last chance to try to pass Whitt for the win and he took it.

To say the slide job Clauson threw on Whitt was questionable would be an understatement. Granted, dirt-track racing is all about slide jobs, wheel bumping, etc., but Clauson ran Whitt off the banking exiting turn two, a move that dropped Whitt to third when the checkered flag fell. Though he was disappointed with not winning, Whitt showed class and dignity immediately following the race. No arguing, no pushing or shoving, and no exchange of words, although he and Clauson were pitted side by side.

No, Whitt just went about his business at hand, changing things out on the car while readying it for a trip to the next race.

“I suppose I could have stayed in the throttle and wadded both cars up,” he said of the slide job by Clauson. “But, there wasn’t any sense in tearing up two good race cars because of that move by [Clauson]. I just want to get the car fixed in time so I can race at Kokomo [Sunday night].”

Although he didn’t win that night, all those in the stands and more than likely a majority of those in the pits know deep down that Whitt deserved the win. But, Whitt showed his championship character and won a fan for a lifetime in me.

Clauson takes checkers

As noted above, Clauson used the last lap pass of Whitt to register the sprint car feature win Friday night at the Gas City I-69 Speedway.

Shane Cottle was second and Whitt third. Shane Hollingsworth, who led briefly in the early stages of the race, was fourth and Thomas Meseraull fifth. Kokomo drivers Frederickson and Spencer finished 12th and 17th, respectively. Spencer, Billy Puterbaugh Jr. and Russ Harper each won their respective heat races while Jason Holt took the B-main on a night that saw excellent track conditions and passing galore.

Josh Owens took the Thunder Car feature over Dave Fritz, who would go on to win at Kokomo two nights later. Pete Thompson was third, Trenten Vogts fourth and Rob Jack fifth. It was all Ervin Turner in the Street Stock main event with Caleb Nutter piloting his father’s No. 1N taking second. Rob Draper was third, Brett Clark fourth and Scott Hubbard fifth.

Mark Fowler held off some heavy hitters to win the Modified feature. Steve Hughes worked his way from ninth to claim second while hot shoe Scotty Orr was third. Andy Bishop was fourth and Darek Snyder fifth. Walton’s Rick Johns was 17th.

The track will host its weekly program Friday night.

Peters shines at Miami

Greentown racer Andrew Peters was a bullet all night long and it finished with him standing in the winners circle Saturday night at the Miami County Speedway in Peru.

Competing in the Winged division, Peters piloted his No. 94P to the win over veteran Bob Bourff. Brian Busz was third, Halen Shafer fourth after starting towards the back of the pack and Jason Ormsby fifth.

Busz continued his good night by claiming the win in the Restrictor division A-main, topping second-place Nick Abbott. Richard Dobbins was third, Garrett Miller fourth and A.J. Grim fifth.

Chris Miller was the victor in the Non-Wing feature, topping Jordan Lambert and Ben Taylor. Wayne Miller was fourth and Sam Kimmel fifth. Veteran driver Whitey Kendall topped Mike Stahl, Dennis Veach, Bruce Betzman and Don Mull to win the Senior division for drivers over 40 years old.

At the other end of the age spectrum, the Junior division, Parker Price-Miller took the checkered flag over second place Justin Weir. Kaleb Kinsler was third, Hallie Feuquay fourth and Jered Van Ness fifth.

The track will be back in action this Saturday night.

• Brett Bowman is a Tribune auto racing columnist may be reached by e-mail at brettbowman29@aol.com or through the sports department.